STENT-IN-STENT TECHNIQUE FOR MANAGEMENT OF PERIPHERAL MALIGNANT ENDOBRONCHIAL OBSTRUCTION

Abstract

TOPIC: Procedures TYPE: Medical Student/Resident Case Reports INTRODUCTION: Airway stenting is used to restore patency of airways with malignant obstruction. Stent-in-stent (SIS) technique has been used in central airway obstruction. We describe a case of malignant endobronchial obstruction in the right upper lobe (RUL) managed with SIS technique. CASE PRESENTATION: 56-year-old male with history of Laryngeal Carcinoma managed with surgical resection and chemo-radiation was transferred for management of recurrent hemoptysis and right lung atelectasis. He was tachypneic and hypoxic requiring 2L oxygen. Labs revealed leukocytosis, hemoglobin of 9.6gm/dl and no coagulopathy. CT Chest showed right lung atelectasis due to right mainstem endobronchial mass. Rigid bronchoscopy (RB) demonstrated a friable mass in the right main stem with frank blood in the central airway. Initially Diode laser was employed for removal of the pedunculated tumor originating in the RUL, followed by debulking with RB and cryoprobe from the right main stem and bronchus intermedius (BI). Rigid tamponade and argon plasma coagulation were used for hemostasis. BF-P190 Olympus scope was used to identify the distal airway in the RUL posterior segment and a 7x22 mm iCAST stent was placed for airway patency. Right middle lobe (RML) and lower lobe (RLL) airways were not localized at the time. A staged RB was performed a few days later. BF-P190 Olympus scope was used for inspection which revealed occlusion of distal end of stent with tumor, advancement of scope with mild pressure through the tumor revealed sub segmental airways, under fluoroscopy guidance a second 7x22mm iCAST stent was placed overlapping with the first stent. Additional tumor debulking from the BI revealed RLL segmental branches. Under direct visualization a 10x38 mm iCAST stent was placed to restore airway patency to the RLL. He remained stable off oxygen post procedure, with reinflation of the right lung. He was discharged with bronchodilators and hypertonic saline with significant improvement in his quality of life. DISCUSSION: Rigid bronchoscopy and airway stenting is commonly used for management of complex central airway obstruction. iCAST stent is a balloon expandable stainless steel stent that is fully encapsulated in two layers of polytetrafluoroethylene. The stent deployment is through the scope with the smallest size of 5x16mm and largest 10x38mm. The smaller size stent can be upsized with a larger sized balloon with the stent shortening in length. We present a SIS placement of two 7x22 mm iCAST stents in the airway likely traversing through the right hilar mass to establish airway patency, resulting in complete reexpansion of the lung. CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral airway stenting of occluded airway due to malignancy can result in lung reinflation, resulting in increased pulmonary reserves for patient to tolerate chemotherapy and radiation. We used SIS technique for customization and appropriate stenting of distal airway. REFERENCE #1: Sethi, Sonali, et al. "Clinical Success Stenting Distal Bronchi for 'Lobar Salvage’ in Bronchial Stenosis:” Journal of Bronchology & Interventional Pulmonology, vol. 25, no. 1, 2018, pp. 9–16, doi:10.1097/LBR.0000000000000422. REFERENCE #2: Majid A, Kheir F, Chung J, Alape D, Husta B, Oh S, Folch E.. Covered Balloon-Expanding Stents in Airway Stenosis. J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2017 Apr;24(2):174-177. doi: 10.1097/LBR.0000000000000364.J Bronchology Interv Pulmonol. 2017. PMID: 28323735 DISCLOSURES: No relevant relationships by Muhammad Arif, source=Web Response no disclosure submitted for Ali Saeed; No relevant relationships by Hursh Sarma, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Andrew Talon, source=Web Response No relevant relationships by Cindrel Tharumia Jagadeesan, source=Web Response